Macbook Air migration: Intel to M2

Question

Eve329 Author

Level 1

11 points

Macbook Air migration: Intel to M2

Hi, I got a new Macbook Air and want to put all my stuff from the old one onto it.

New: 13.6" 2022, M2, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD.

Old: 13.6" 2017, Intel, 4 GB, 128 SSD -- still running Big Sur.

Question 1: Should I upgrade the old laptop to Monterey before starting The Migration?

Q 2: Would using cables make the migration process noticably faster? (If I migrate only my user account: that's apparently 55 GB.) I have an Ethernet adapter for the oldie; would have to get one for the new machine.

Q 3: What to migrate?

Applications: It seems to be advisable not to migrate apps, which I understand and can live with.
User (me): Will migrating this also transfer the passwords in the keychain? (I'm thinking of the wifis I use regularly). And Safari bookmarks? And all the passwords that Safari "remembers"? I'm trying to remember what other stuff would be extremely helpful to have migrated, or extremely tedious to do by hand...
Other Files and Folders: Is that all stuff I've created, like docs and csv files and stuff? Would it be better to "manually" shove those from the one machine to the other rather than Migrating them?
System & Network: Is it better to configure this stuff manually on the new machine? I'm not sure what that would consist of... I've customized the display a bit and so forth, and my main Network thing is just my wifi at home (where I also work), so doing it by hand wouldn't really be too burdensome. Or is there more to it than that, such that it really would be advisable to have the Migration Assistant do this?

Thank you for any comments/advice! And thanks again to steve626 for helpful comments in another thread (Migration problem!? - Apple Community).

Posted on Nov 3, 2022 04:00 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

72,096 points

Nov 3, 2022 04:10 AM in response to Eve329

I recommend that you migrate only the user(s).

That will bring back all your passwords in the keychain, all your documents, bookmarks, mail, photos, music...

Do not bring back applications, settings, other files.

This way you start with a clean system and avoid bringing back old extensions, daemons that may not work in the new OS (and could possibly already be causing issues in the old one).

This is a good idea in general, when migrating, and especially so when going to a new OS and a new architecture at the same time.

Also: when you then separately install fresh copies of any applications that you actually want to use, your preferences from the old mac are still there, so it just takes a little more, but you get things that are up to date.

Reply

Answer 2

Nov 3, 2022 05:00 AM in response to Eve329

If you are going to migrate just the user account, it should make no difference whether you upgrade the old mac first, or not.

So I'd just keep it as is.

Do you have a Time Machine backup of your old mac?

The fastest way would be to attach the TM drive to the new mac and migrate from there.

Just choose "From another mac, drive or Time Machine backup" and then select the appropriate drive.

No need for transmitting stuff via wifi or the network.

If you don't, then seriously consider getting one. Time Machine is so easy and it can save you from losing your precious data.

Reply

Answer 3

Eve329 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 3, 2022 05:23 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

So if I migrate from the Time Machine (yes, I have that) then I'll be offered the same choices of what to migrate?

Assuming yes: OK, I'll do that! Seems like that has the added advantage that I can still use the old laptop while the migration is going on - which I understand can take a long time.

Thanks again, this has been most helpful!

Reply